IPSWICH Town supporters have been put on the spot.They have been warned that the strength of Town's quest for a Premiership place next season will be based on the number of season ticket sales this summer.

By Elvin King

IPSWICH Town supporters have been put on the spot.

They have been warned that the strength of Town's quest for a Premiership place next season will be based on the number of season ticket sales this summer.

A considerable number of long-term season ticket holders have indicated that because of sub-standard results they are thinking about not renewing for 2006/7. They are now being persuaded to change their minds, and it will be interesting to see how they react.

Thanks to the efforts of chairman David Sheepshanks, chief executive Derek Bowden and their staff, the Blues have successfully rescheduled their debt service payments.

This ensured that Ipswich were in a position to deter any moves to take any of their young starlets away from Portman Road during the January transfer window.

And fans have been told that Ipswich are now under no financial pressure to sell players for the next couple of years.

But there is a big BUT, and this is where Town supporters face a ticklish dilemma.

In the Ipswich World matchday programme for Tuesday's home Coca-Cola Championship match with Leeds, Bowden wrote: “Rescheduling our debt service was based on the fact that it is in all our interests for Ipswich Town to win promotion to the Premiership, and to stay there.

“To do so we need to be in a position to retain the players that we wish and add new ones as necessary.

“The agreement reached with our lenders means that we are under no financial pressure to sell for the next couple of seasons.

“But this is providing - and it is a big providing - that our commercial income holds up.

“In particular, income from attendances and crucially season tickets.”

Carrying on with his passionate plea to Ipswich fans, Bowden came to the rub: “The closer we get to the level of season tickets sold this current year the stronger the squad we will have next season and beyond.

“Our proposition to you - our supporters - is a simple one.

“If you renew or buy a new season ticket, then you will help ensure that we can grab the opportunity that we have worked so hard for with both hands.

“There would be no player sales for financial reasons, the retention of our most talented young players and a chance to build a squad capable of gaining promotion to the Premiership and staying there.”